Suction operated floor cleaning device employing liquid



g- 19, 1952 F. K. MINERLEY 2,607,068

SUCTION OPERATED FLOOR CLEANING DEVICE EMFLOYING LIQUID Filed April 24, 1946 HVVENIOR.

ea'ezz'ck/f/linexk7 WWW fl TTOPNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1952 I I i v Summommn 1114.901. 413E 10E lg yg-Loym IQUID Qbi q 1151i Appliqaitioii Ami-QM, 194 s mi N91 M525 isiiii; it is merfif qm,

isis' or a mladi wii i fil the invention is shown on H e QQQQQ, pa riyilig ifgfimfid thxge dmwinaa 'W'hiQlCL i a i Li Ei llrezl is a isiiqa welexaiiqn Q2 ia pl an n iEQQl parmicularly ra iam i ar seltuhhin 1 11 .q ieanix fia fiQQlipSll-I& Q;

.Ei ux -Z i .Q ilim dim am-y ail 2 91 19 's ex t gn 9f shown n .E u fi the valv -miemiw 1. actuated to enable the liquid in [be gigsqhggged or to flow therefrom t the floor-su fapj Fi gure ii is a View gimilar tolfiggqeZ'Jutshowis; the valve m phan'i n s h pps ti ha the flow of liquid to the floor surfagg s hut' off and also showing the acuum or suction ontrpllfmg'valvfi in c osed P si i n @111 i00 hus b ng, n c i i n t be us d ormu bin 91 21 9 Fi u e 4 i a view? s mi r to g m in 3 but showing fshe vzil ae mechanism ac tua te d $0 .05 Q th -9i 9 13 d l li i th -$14 tion to be rendered efigctive forsflfikirggor diiawing th i uid f om the floo ur ce; nd V. .i I. i i.

Figure 5 is a bpttpm plan view of the floQr t0 qL 7 1 j 7 'E.h@.;i ust .a @d embod m .Qi -.th.e inv n n (Q fli l g m ri s a 0. r use in con ec n w h the stem 22 of the valve extends through a wall of the wand I l and is adapted to be engaged by actuating rod 23, a coil spring 24 encircling the stem 22 being interposed between the wand H and a disk 24 aflixed to the outer end of stem 22. The spring 24 normally holds the valve 2| in position to uncover the hole i511.

A means for controlling the passage of liquid from tank l8 to tube constitutes valve 25 adapted to seat against the end of the tube [1 within the tank Ill. The stem 26 of the valve 25 extends through the tube I! and the outer wall of the wand to be engaged by the oppositeend of the actuating rod 23. A spring 21 encircles the valve stem 26 and is interposed between the wand H and a disc 26a fixed to the end of stem 26. Spring 21 normally holds valve 25 seated.

Disposed intermediate the ends of the rod 23 and secured to the wand l is a bracket 28 which, in this instance, is formed with a longitudinally elongate slot to receive pins 29 projecting laterally from the sides of the rod 23, it being understood that the bracket 28 consists of a pair of spaced outwardly extending plates. Disposed between the plates of the bracket 28 is a bell crankarmBQ pivotally mounted at 3|, the bar engaging end of the bell crank extending in a direction away from the floor tool and having a roller 32 for contacting the bar 23.

.The bell crank 33 is actuated by means or a wire link 33 which is connected to the outstandmg arm of the bell crank and to an actuating handle 34 pivoted to the upper end portion of the wand I.

In. operation it will be understood that a small quantity of liquid such as water containing, as desired, a suitable detergent is introduced into the tank I8 after the cap |9 is first unscrewed. The water or liquid level within the tank should notextend above the tube l6 so that the upper portion of the tank, 1. e. the portion above the liquid level, may function asa vacuum or plenum chamber, as detailed below.

In use and assuming that thesuction or partial vacuum is created through the instrumentality of the flexible hose I3, a stream of air would normally pass through the floor tool l2, up the front end portion of the wand I to the tube |6, thence laterally into the tank l9 and through the upper portion of the tank to the tube |5, and thence past to the valve 2| to the upper portion of the wand When the operating handle 34 is released, the valves are in the position shown in Figure 4, in which the liquid controlling valve 25 is in closed position and the vacuum controlling valve 2! is in open position.

' When it is desired to flow a quantity of liquid on the floor surface, the operating handle 34 is actuated to rock the bell crank 38 in a counterclockwise direction to tilt or actuate the bar 23 to the position indicated in Figure 2, at which time the vacuum controlling valve 2| is closed and the liquid valve 25 is open. At that time, the liquid may flow'from the tank |8 by gravity, through the tube I! and the lower end of the wand II to the floor tool |2. So long as the valve 25 is open and the valve 2| closed, liquid will flow by gravity inasmuch as tank I8 is then not under sub-atmospheric pressure.

By slightly releasing the operating handle 34 to the point that the vacuum controlling valve 2| is closed and the spring 21 has operated to close the liquid valve 25 (Figure 3) then the tool may be used for scrubbing purposes without addi tional flow of liquid, and the liquid on the floor may be brushed or scrubbed into the floor surface to collect the dirt and other foreign particles. In this connection, it is desirable that the weaker spring be the spring 24 associated with the vacuum controlling valve 2|. Thus by rocking the bell crank 35, it is possible to actuate the bar 23, close the valve 2| while the valve 25 remains closed, this being due to the point of engagement of the bell crank 38 with the bar, and the spring arrangement.

After the floor surface has been sufliciently scrubbed, then by releasing the control handle 34 so as to secure the benefit of the partial vacuum or suction created from the flexible tube Hi, the spring 24 moves the vacuum controlling valve 2| to open position and the spring 21 moves the valve 25'to its closed position so that the dirt carrying liquid will be drawn through the floor tool I2, through the wand H, and into the tank l9 through the tube it. The upper portion of the tank l9, in view of the fact that it is a much larger area than the wand ll, provides a pressure reducing, expansion or plenum chamber. As a consequence, the liquid and dirt or foreign particles carried by the stream of air will fall into the tank while the stream of air continues in the manner above described. The stream of air passing at relatively high velocity together with entrained liquid and foreign matter is thrown somewhat against the walls of the upper portion of the tank and these heavier foreign particles and liquid flow or drop into the lower portion of the tank. The importance of having a portion of the tube l5 projecting inside of the tank resides in the fact that it acts as a battle for militating against moisture passing along with the air to the wand ll. When the liquid becomes dirty, it may be emptied from the tank l8 and replaced by clean liquid.

It should be understood that the cleaning operation can be effectively carried on on carpets or rugs as well as on hard surfaces such as linoleum or tile surfaces, and in this manner, a substantial area can be quickly and eiiiciently cleaned and left practically dry. Although some moisture will necessarily remain on the floor surface, it is only a negligible quantity which will quickly evaporate. Although the tool described herein is in the nature of an accessory to a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum creating mechanism may be mounted on the tool thereby providing a self-contained unit.

It is manifest that, in following the above teachings, Various modifications of the baffle, valves, valve control mechanism, and other features, including details of construction, arrangement, and operation may be efiected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A floor cleaner comprising a floor tool, a support for said tool comprising a single elongate pipe extending upwardly therefrom, a container supported on said pipe, said container having upper and lower portions, the lower portion being adapted to contain liquid, a first fluid connection with the upper portion of said container adapted for coupling with a source of suction, a second fluid connection between the upper portion of said container and said pipe whereby air and liquid drawn upwardly through the pipe will pass into the container, a third fluid connection between the lower portion of said container and said pipe and establishing a gravity flow connection from said lower portion of the tank to said pipe, means on said cleaner for selectively rendering said suction efiective and ineffective, and valve means in said third fluid connection for selectively opening and closing the same whereby, when the third fluid connection is open, liquid may flow from the lower portion of the tank to the pipe under the influence of gravity.

2. A cleaner of the character described comprising a floor tool, a substantially rigid tubular support connected to and extending generally upwardly from the floor tool when the latter is in normal use, a tank adapted to contain liquid in the lower portion thereof mounted on said tubular support above the floor tool, said tubular support having a hollow bore communicating with the interior of the'tank below the liquid level providing a passage from said tank to the -floor tool enabling gravitational liquid flow to the latter, valve means controlling said passage, a fluid connection between the hollow bore of said support and the tank above the liquid level therein, the upper portion of the tank providing an expansion chamber, means providing a passage connected to said tank at a point spaced above said fluid connection adapted to be con-' nected to a suction source, valve means controlling said last passage, and means for conjointly actuating said valve means.

3. A floor cleaner comprising a floor tool, a support for said tool comprising a single elongate pipe extending upwardly therefrom, a container supported on said pipe, said container having upper, lower, and intermediate portions, the lower portion being adapted to contain liquid, a first fluid connection with the upper portion of said container adapted for coupling with a source of suction, a second fluid connection between the intermediate portion of said container and said pipe, a third fiuid connection between the lower portion of said container and said pipe and establishing a gravity flow connection from said lower portion of the tank to said pipe, means on said cleaner for selectively rendering said suction efiective and inefiective, and valve means in said third fluid connection for selectively opening and closing the same whereby, when the third fluid connection is open, liquid may flow from the lower portion of the tank to the pipe under the influence of gravity.

4. A cleaner of the character described comprising, a floor tool, a substantially rigid tube connected to said floor tool and leading therefrom in the direction which is upwardly therefrom when said tool is applied to a floor, means forming an enclosure supported on said tube above said floor tool, said enclosure having a lower portion constituting a liquid reservoir and an upper portion constituting an expansion chamber, first and second fluid connections respectively between the lower ends of said lower and upper portions of said enclosure and said tube, and a third fluid connection leading from said upper portion adapted for coupling to a source of suction, first valve means in said first fluid connection for selectively opening and closing said first fluid connection, second valve means in said third fluid connection for selectively rendering said suction inefiective and efiective, and control means movable between a plurality of positions for alternately operating said first and second valve means selectively to open said first fluid connection so as to enable liquid to flow gravitationally from said lower portion through said tube to said tool while rendering said suction ineffective when in the first of said positions and, when in the second of said positions for closing said first fluid connection to prevent liquid flow therethrough While operating said second valve means so as to render said suction effective. 5. The combination claimed in claim 4, said control means being movable to a third of said plurality of positions in which said first valve means is closed and said second valve means is operated to render said suction ineffective.

FREDERICK K. MINERLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 847,947 Kenny Mar. 19, 1907 930,628 Squier Aug. 10, 1909 961,816 Squier June 10, 1910 970,466 Clements Sept. 10, 1910 1,042,711 Moorhead Oct. 29, 1912 1,690,472 Breton Nov. 6, 1928 1,762,142 Breton June 10, 1930 1,979,797 Finnell Nov. 6, 1934 2,129,797 Thompson Sept. 13, 1938 2,200,026 Juelson May 7, 1940 2,292,435 Crites Aug. 11, 1942 2,384,458 D-ubay Sept. 11, 1945 2,470,319 Norris May 17, 1949 2,516,246 -Norris July 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 381,256 France 1907 271,152 Great Britain 1927 763,304

France Feb. 12, 1934 

